Method of re-forming golf balls



April 14, 1925.

1,533,563 5. MAG G] METHOD OF IRE-FORMING GOLF BALLS Filed Dec. 27. 1922 3 sheets she'et l m Gmm April 14, 1925. 1,533,563

' S. MAGGI METHOD OF RBI-FORMING GOLF BALLS Filed De 2'7. 1922 3 Shoots-Shoot 2 W attorneys April 14, 1925. 1,533,563

s. MAGGI METHOD OF REE-FORMING GOLF BALLS Filed Dec. 27. 1922 3 sheotssho bt 5 .9

.H. mm

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES SABA TINO MAGGI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD or Bis-FORMING GOLF BALLS.

Application filed December 27, 192 Serial No. 609,235.

T (7 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SABATINO MAocr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Re-forming Golf Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to. a method of and apparatus for re-forming golf balls.

After a golf ball has been in use for a short period of time it will be found that it has, to a greater or less extent, lost its spherical contour or has become dented or pitted. Ordinarily golf balls in this condition are discarded although, except for their outer cover layer of rubber, they are in good condition. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to evolve a method and provide an apparatus whereby golf balls damaged in the manner stated may be restored to their original true spherical form and any dents or other surface defects removed thereby rendering the ballas suitable for use as when new.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the ball may not only be restored tovits original spherical form but may also be provided, in the carrying out of the method, with any desired form or arrangement of protubera-nces or indentations upon or in its surface as in the case of a newly manufactured golf ball.

In the accompanying drawings;

- Figure 1 is a View of a diagrammatic nature illustrating the component parts of the apparatus employed in carrying out the method of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional View illustrating the part of the apparatus in which the balls are initially treated to soften the rubber surface layer thereof and restore the balls to true spherical form;

Figure 3 is a plan View illustrating that part of the apparatus in which the reformed balls are treated in an intermediate step in the method;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4; t

Figure 6 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating a mold press in which the re-formed balls are tinally treated;

spherical form will be maintained, and,

tin-ally, subjecting the ball to treatment in a press mold to impress upon or in the surface of the coating layer, the desired form and arrangement of protuberances or indentagions to provide the usual roughened surace.

The first step of the method outlined above is carried out in a steaming and reforming apparatus which is shown clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. This apparatus comprises a casing 1 preferably of cylindrical form closed at its top by a removable lid or cover 2. A partition or false bottom 3 is arranged within the casing 1 above the bottom 4 thereof and is preferably in the nature of a circular plate having a smooth upper surface, the plate being provided cen-- trally with a bearing 5 and with perforations 6, arranged in a series about the said bearing. The peripheral portion of the plate is also formed with perforations or notches 7 The casing 1 constitutes a means for subjecting the misshapen balls to the action of live steam, and to this end a suitable volume of water will be introduced into the casing below the partition 3, as shown in Figure 2, the steam generated when heat is applied to the bottom of the casing rising through the perforations 6 and 7 and into the upper portion of the said casing.

The numeral 8 indicates a circular forming plate which is provided with a hub portion 9 fitting a shaft 10 and secured thereto by any suitable means, such as a set screw 11, the forming plate being in this manner held for rotation with the said shaft 10. The lower end of the shaft- 10 is rotatably fitted through the bearing 5 in the partition plate 3 and the shaft 10 is likewise rotatably fitted in a sleeve 12 having bearing in a bushing 13 set into the central portion of the lid or cover 2. The sleeve 12 is preferably formed with a longitudinal key-way 14 receiving a key or spline 15 upon the inner surface of the bushin 13, the said sleeve being, however, slidab e vertically through the bushing so as to provide for vertical ad- 'ustment of the shaft 10 and the forming ead or plate 8 carried thereby. A suitable bearing washer 16 may be arranged upon the manner prevented. A pulley or other gear element 18 is fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 10, and suitable anti-friction bearin s 19.may be interposed between the under side of the ulley and the upper side of the stufling-Eox 17 so that free rotation of the shaft will not be interfered with. The

sleeve 12 is exteriorly threaded, as indicated by the numeral 20, and a hand wheel 21 is fitted onto the sleeve and has its hub interiorly threaded, as indicated by the numeral 22, so as to fit the threads 20. The hub of the hand wheel 21 rests upon the upper end of the bushing 13 and it will be evident that by rotating the hand wheel in one direction the sleeve 12, together with the shaft 10 journaled therein and the forming plate 8 carried by the shaft, will be permitted to move downwardly toward the partition plate 3, rotation of the hand Wheel in the opposite direction serving, in a like manner, to elevate the said plate 8.

In order that the balls to be reformed may be introduced into the casing 1 between the partition plate 3 and the forming plate 8, an opening 23 is provided in one side of the caslng immediately above the plane of the upper surface 3. A valve 24 is slidably mounted in the wall of the casing and normally extends across and closes the opening 23so that in the operation of this portion of the apparatus no steam can escape through said opening. A number of balls are to be treated simultaneously in this portion of the apparatus and in order that they may be convenientl introduced into the casing and discharge therefrom, an arrangement of conduits such as illustrated in Figure 2 is preferably provided. In this arrangement, inlet and discharge conduits 25 and 26 respectively are joined by a. short branch 27 which is joined to the casing wall and communicates with the opening 23. The inlet conduit 25 is supported at a suitable angle of inclination extending upwardly and laterally from'the branch 27 and is preferably provided at its upper end with a flared mouth 28. Rectangular valve casings 29 and 30 are arranged respectively near the upper and lower ends of the conduit 25, and gate valves 31 and 32 are slidably mounted in the said casings 29 and 30, respectively. The outlet conduit 26 leads downwardly and outwardly at a suitable angle of inclinaslidably-mounted in said casings 33 and 34 respectively.

In the o ration of this rtion of the apparatus, t e valve 31 is s id to open position and the balls to be treated are introduced into the conduit 25, the ball first introduced resting u on the valve 32 which is at such time close When a desired number of the balls have been introduced into the conduit, the valve 31 is slid to closed position, and the valves 32 and 24 are then opened thus ermitting the balls to roll down the con uit and through the branch 27 and opening 23 into the casin 1 upon the plate 3 and beneath the formin plate 8. The valves 24 and 32 are then 0 osed, and through the medium of a suitable motor 37 and belt or other power transmitting means 38, rotary motion is im arted to the shaft 10 and consequently to tide forming plate 8. The hand wheel 21 is rotated so as to permit the plate 8 to lower until its underside rests in contact with the balls which have been introduced into the apparatus. Previously the water in the casing 1 has been heated to the boiling point and therefore the balls will be subjected to the action of the live steam generated. In subjecting the balls to the action of the steam, the coating layers of the balls, which layers are of rubber, will be softened and rendered plastic or semiplastic. As the plate 8 rotates, the balls will be rolled about" between this plate and the partition plate 3 and any inequalities in the surfaces of the balls will be eliminated,

the continued rolling operation serving tov finally reduce the balls to a true spherical form. If occasion requires, the hand wheel 21 may be further adjusted during this operation so as to suitably vary the pressure exerted by the forming plate 8 u on the balls being treated. After the ba ls have been reduced to true spherical form, the valves 24 and 35 are opened, thus permitting the balls, as they are driven by centrifu al force through the rotation of the formin plate 8, to pass through the opening 23 an into the conduit 26. When all of the balls have been discharged from the apparatus, the valves 24 and 35 are again closed, and the valve 36' is opened so as to permit the reformed balls to issue from the conduit.

At the time of'delivery of the re-formed balls from the steaming and re-forming aparatus, their rubber coating layers are still in a plastic or semi-plastic condition and it istherefore necessary that the rubber of these layers be cured and that the said layers be cooled to a lower temperature. As it would not be practical to merely expose the Ion re-formed balls to the atmosphere while such as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings is next employed. The apparatus referred to comprises a preferably circular table 39 having at its central portion an upstanding sleeve 40 which is rotatably fitted onto a spindle 41 which is supported at its lower end upon a suitable pedestal or base 42, the spindle having a shoulder or collar 43 near its lower end upon which the lower end of the sleeve 40 may rest in the rotation of the table about the spindle. A hand wheel or the like, indicated by the numeral 44, is provided at the upper end of the sleeve 40 and constitutes a means whereby rotary motion may be imparted to the table 39. The numeral 45 indicates a number of supporting brackets which are arranged in an annular series about the table 39 near the periphery thereof and which are disposed radial to the axis of rotation of the table. These brackets are provided each with a pair of stems 46 which project downwardly therefrom and slidably through openings 47 formed in the table 39. Springs 48 are an ranged upon the stems 46 and rest at their lower ends upon the upper side of the table and engage at their upper ends against the under sides of the respective brackets 45, the brackets being in this manner yieldably supported in an elevated position with relation to the table 39. Each bracket 45 includes a pair of upstanding ears 49 to which are pivoted the lower inner corners of a pair of mold sections which are indicated by the numeral 50. These sections coact to form one-half of a mold or curing chamber and they are yieldably held apart, except under conditions to be presently explained. by means of springs 51 which are interposed between their relatively adjacent faces, these faces and the upper faces of the mold sections being formed with concavities 52 each having the contour of a quarter of a sphere. At this point it will be evident that when the sections 50 are brought together against the tension of the springs 51, the recesses or concavities 52 will register thus forming a semi-spherical cavity constituting one-half of the mold chamber. A third mold sect-ion coacts with the sections 50 and is indicated in general by the numeral 53. This mold section is supported at the outer end of an arm 54 pivotally connected at its inner end as at 55 to the sleeve 40. The mold section 53 is provided in its under side, or in other Words, in its side which is presented toward the upper sides of the mold sections 50, with a semi-spherical concavity 56 constituting the other half of the mold chamber. In the use of this portion of the apparatus, the balls as delivered from the steaming and rc-forming apparatus previousl described, are introduced each into one o the annular series of mold chambers, the sections 53 of the mold chambers being, for this purpose, raised to an elevated position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and the balls being deposited in the concavities 52 in the mold sections 50. The mold sections 50 are then brought together about their pivots and against the tension of the springs 51, and when they are in contact the mold section 53 is lowered to position upon the said sections 50. In this manner the ball to be treated is snugly housed within a truly spherical mold or curing chamber and is permitted to remain therein until the rubber coating layer has been suitably cured andihas reached a temperature sufficiently low in degree to permit of the carrying out of the next and final step in the method. In order that the mold sections 50 may be held in contact when the section 53 is lowered to position thereon, studs 57 are preferably provided upon the under side of the section 53 and project downwardly therefrom and are adapted to seat in sockets 58 formed in the upper sides of the sections 50. It will no doubt be preferable, in practice, to arrange the curing apparatus in juxtaposition to the steaming and re-forming apparatus, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, so that as the balls are delivered from the conduit 26 of the last-mentioned apparatus, they may be introduced into the curing chambers of the first-mentioned apparatus these chambers are suecessivelv brought to a convenient position for such introduction of the balls, through rotation of the hand wheel 44.

The next step in themethod consists in subjecting, the balls to a molding operation in a press mold so as to finally compress and shape the rubber cover layer thereof and suitably ro-ughen the surface of the same. This step in the operation is carried out preferably in a mold of the construction shown in Figs. 6. 7 and 8. The mold comprises upper and lower body sections indicated respectively by the numerals 59 and 60. The section 60 is mounted upon the base portion 61 of a frame structure 62 which includes a standard 63 which upstands vertically from the base 61 and is provided with a laterally projecting arm 64. The said section 60 is provided with a plurality of upstanding guide rods 65 which work in bores 66 formed in the section the section 59 being in nus manner guided for vertical movement above the section 60 and with relation to said section. The arm 64 is provided with an opening 67 through which a threaded rod 68 is loosely: fitted.

the said rod being prdvided at its upper end with a hand wheel which is indicated by the numeral 69 and which serves as a means whereby the rod may be rotated. The rod has threaded engagement through a sleeve 70 which is supported by a collar 71 pivotally mounted at one end of a link 7 2 which link is pivotally supported at its other end, as at 73, upon the standard 63, the collar 71 being provided with a handle 74 which may be grasped for the purpose of elevatingthe sleeve 70.. The lower end of the threaded rod 68 supports a plat-e 75 which is fixed to the upper side of the section 59 of the mold and it will be understood at this point that the rod 68 may be rotated so as to exert pressure against the mold section 59 and press the same against the top of the mold section 60. On the other hand, when the mold is to be opened, the threaded rod 68 may be rotated so as to relieve the mold section 59 of pressure thus threading the sleeve 70 downwardly upon said rod 68 until it has nearly reached the lower end thereof at which time the handle 74 may be grasped and the rod 68 may be.,,

lifted, together with the mold section 59. Except in the respects above noted, the sections 59 and 60 are of counter-part construe tion and therefore a specific description of one will sufiice for both. Each section is formed with a transversely extending recess indicated by the numeral 7 G and with a narrower recess 77 communicating with the intermediate portion of the respective recess 76. The mold chamber comprises two sections, indicated in general by the numeral 78, and each consisting of a pair of mem bers 79 which are pivotally connected by cars 80 to rods 81 which are support-ed at their endsvin ears 82 formed at the ends of bracket plates 83, the plates being arranged within the recesses 77 and provided with stems 84 which work in openings 85 formed in the inner walls of the said recesses, springs 86 being arranged upon the stems 84 and bearing between the said inner walls of the recesses 77 and the bracket plates 83 so as to yieldably urge the said bracket plates in a direction outwardly from the respective recesses 77. The mold chambers 79 are of substantially rectangular form and the recesses 76 in which they are disposed are gradually increased in width in the direction of their open sides so that at their open sides the recesses are of a width somewhat greater than thecombined, width of the two members 79 disposed therein. By reason of this arrangement the members 79 may have tilting movement about their pivot rods 81 to become mutually separatedto a limited degree and thus permit of the more ready introduction and removal of" the ball to be acted upon. Springs 87 are interposed between the members 79 of each set and act to automatically separate the sections under conditions which will presently be explained. In order that when the members 79 of the mold chamber sections are to be held in mutual contact at their adjacent faces, they may be so held in a positive manner and prevented from accidental relative separation, studs 88 are formed upon the upper faces of the members 79 of the lower mold chamber section, and sockets 89 are formed in the under faces of the corresponding members 79 of the upper mold chamber section. The chambers 79 of the mold chamber sections are formed each with a concavity 90 having the contour of one quarter of a sphere and it will be evident that when the mold chamber sections are brought face to face, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the concavities will all register in such a manner as to provide a spherical mold chamber. The Walls of the concavities are provided with small protuber will be relatively automatically moved apart by the action of the springs 87 as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings so as to permit of the introduction into the mold chamber of the golf ball to be treated in'the final step of the method. The ball, as it came from the curing apparatus shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, was of smooth spherical form. The ball in this state is disposed within the mold chamber of the mold press shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and the threaded rod 68 is then rotated, so as to force the mold section 59 down onto the mold section 60. As this is done'the members 79 of the mold chamber sections will be brought together and likewise the two sections will .be mutually brought together so that the mold chamber will be completely closed. As the members of the mold chamber sections close in the manner stated, the walls of the mold chamber will be caused to exert pressure about all sides of the ball disposed within loo the mold chamber and in this manner the thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces thereof.

2. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to heat to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action between surfaces, one of which is rotatable with relation to the other, whereby to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces of the balls.

. 3. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises subjecting the balls to heat to soften the cover layer thereof and sub jeeting the balls to a rolling action between plane surfaces one of which is moving with relation to the other whereby to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces of the balls.

4:. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to steam to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces thereof.

5. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to steam to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action between surfaces one of which is continuously moving with relation to the other whereby to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces of the balls.

6. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to the action of steam to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action between plane surfaces one of which is continuously moving with relation to the other, whereby to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces of the balls.

7. The method of re-folrming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to heat to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces thereof, and then setting the re-formed balls in a truly spherical mold chamber.

8. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to the action of steam to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action toeliminate inequalities in the surfaces thereof, and then setting the re-formed balls in a truly spherical mold chamber.

9. The method of re-forming golf balls which comprises simultaneously subjecting the balls to the action of steam to soften the cover layer thereof and subjecting the balls to a rolling action to eliminate inequalities in the surfaces thereof, then setting the reformed balls in a truly spherical mold chamher, and subsequently acting upon the balls in a press mold to provide the same with a roughened surface and effect final compression of the said cover layer.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SABATINO MAGGI. [1,. a] 

